U.K. Farmers Protest in London Over Inheritance Tax Change
Thousands of farmers gathered in central London on Tuesday in the biggest show of opposition to a policy announced by Britain’s center-left Labour government since it won power in July. Angry at inheritance taxation changes outlined in last month’s budget by the chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, protesters carried placards reading “No farmers no food,” while a procession of tractors drove past Parliament. While the immediate catalyst for the demonstration was the tax change, it also reflected a broader sense of grievance among some of those who live in the countryside who accuse successive governments of betraying their interests, particularly in the wake of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. The change under Ms. Reeves’s plan applies to people who inherit agricultural assets worth more than a million pounds, about $1.3 million. They were previously exempt from inheritance tax, but will have to pay it at 20 percent — half the standard rate — from April 2026.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 19:12 UTC
Thousands of farmers head to London for inheritance tax protest - live updates
Thousands of farmers from across Wales and others parts of the UK are in London today for a huge protest. They are calling on the Government to scrap its changes to agricultural inheritance tax that were announced in last month's Budget. Celebrities including Jeremy Clarkson - who told the Times in 2021 that avoiding inheritance tax was "the critical thing" in his decision to buy land - have joined the rally to address everyone. For anything above that, landowners will pay a 20% tax rate, rather than the standard 40% rate of inheritance tax (IHT) applied to other land and property. In a speech to NFU members as they come to London to lobby MPs on the issue, the organisation's president Tom Bradshaw is expected to tell them that the "betrayal" on the tax changes is extraordinary.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 16:35 UTC
Jeremy Clarkson, James Dyson and Junk Stats: Is This the Best the Anti-Inheritance Tax Farming Lobby Has to Offer?
Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson joins the farmers in Whitehall in a protest organised by National Farmers’ Union (NFU)to urge the government to change course over inheritance tax. As even the Conservative-supporting Spectator magazine wryly put it: “It is hard to believe that concerns about inheritance tax did not enter his head when he moved into farming.”Dyson is understood to deny this. It’s because married farmers can claim their £1m inheritance tax exemption (Agricultural Property Relief) twice. And then they can claim tax relief for their residence on the farm too. Why should a billionaire be able to plough all their wealth into farmland to avoid the inheritance tax every other wealthy estate has to pay?
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 16:20 UTC
Band Aid at 40: Bob Geldof recalls the iconic charity single's chaotic creation
Forty years later, Geldof admits his second career might never have started had the first not foundered so badly. I said, 'Oh, everyone,' but still I wasn't sure. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The old shyster rang me at 3am, saying he was going to charge for the poster of the Band Aid line-up. His morning has begun, as most days do, with 10 emails of Band Aid Trust-related matters.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 15:53 UTC
UK to relaunch trade talks with India, seeks 'new strategic partnership'
Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. "India is ... a vital trading partner for the UK. We believe there is a good deal to be done here that works for both nations," British Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds said.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 15:40 UTC
My boyfriend finds menstruation unappealing – and I feel rejected every month
‘How do I come to terms with this?’ Composite: Getty Images/Guardian Design Team. However, my boyfriend is turned off by period sex, a novel situation for me. I respect his boundaries but I can’t help feeling rejected every month. How do I come to terms with this and not feel rebuffed? Everybody has likes and dislikes concerning sex and bodily functions, and it’s important to respect each other’s feelings about such things.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 15:12 UTC
Calls for Reeves’s resignation over false job claim allegations
In a functioning democracy, even the suggestion of such a history would require Reeves’s immediate resignation or sacking. Your support is hugely appreciated. Your support is hugely appreciated. DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyThanks for your solidarity so Skwawkbox can keep doing its job of inconveniencing the right and helping to build the left! If you wish to republish this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 15:09 UTC
Farmers take to London to protest inheritance tax — as it happened
Factoring in about £3 million free from inheritance tax, his son James, 29, would face an inheritance tax bill of 20 per cent on £12 million if he died suddenly, which is £2.4 million. AdvertisementLabour rebuffs criticismLabour has hit back at today’s demonstration by farmers in central London over increases to inheritance tax, insisting that the hike “will not impact the majority of farmers”. Sharing a post on X titled “The truth about Labour’s budget and farmers”, the party said: “Estates worth up to £3 million could still be passed on by a couple completely free of inheritance tax.” Labour also reiterated that when inheritance tax does apply, “farmers will still pay 50 per cent less inheritance tax than everyone else”. We will reverse this cruel tax, says BadenochKemi Badenoch told farmers that the Conservatives “have your backs” and vowed to reverse the inheritance tax change for farmers. Johnson labelled the inheritance tax changes as “Labour’s demented family farm tax”.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 14:27 UTC
Thousands march on NZ parliament in protest against change to Māori treaty bill – video
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched on New Zealand's parliament in Wellington to protest against a change to a founding treaty between the Māori and the crown, which was signed more than a century ago. Activists say the alteration in how the bill is interpreted infringes Māori rights
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 13:52 UTC
Uniqlo chief says fast fashion must change with the times
By YURI KAGEYAMAForty years after its founding, Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo has more than 2,500 stores worldwide. The name Uniqlo comes from joining the words for “unique” and “clothing.” The chain’s basic concept is “LifeWear,” or everyday clothing. That was followed by our fleece boom, which doubled our revenue in one year to 400 billion yen. When we say Uniqlo is “made for all,” one might imagine products for the masses, like what’s at a Wal-Mart or a Target. We’ve been preparing to reach 3 trillion yen revenue all these years.
Source:The Times
November 19, 2024 13:35 UTC
AI cloning of celebrity voices outpacing the law, experts warn
Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey and Kylie Jenner have all had their voices cloned by fraudsters. Online blaggers used artificial intelligence to fake the Tiggerish tones of Martin Lewis, the TV financial adviser. And this weekend David Attenborough described himself as “profoundly disturbed” to have discovered that his cloned voice had been used to deliver partisan US news bulletins. AI-generated David Attenborough voice used to report on Donald Trump – videoNow experts have warned that voice-cloning is outpacing the law as technologists hone previously clunky voice generators into models capable of emulating the subtlest pauses and breathing of human intonation. after newsletter promotionOpenAI voice assistant Sky sounds like Scarlett Johansson – videoThe rise of cloned voices raises the question of what they miss about real human tones.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 13:34 UTC
Milligan men’s soccer makes NAIA Tournament field
(WJHL) – One year after finishing as national runner-up, the Buffaloes will, once again, play in the NAIA men’s soccer tournament in 2024. Milligan was one of three Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) squads to earn a spot in the 40-team field on Sunday. Head coach Paddy Sweeney and his crew will play Madonna (Mich.) in the First Round on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University. 7 seed Indiana Wesleyan in the Second Round on Saturday at 4 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 13:11 UTC
How to protect your home and crops from Elephants using bees
The Gurdian is running a great story from Africa about how to protect your farm from Elephants using bees.www.theguardian.com/…My understanding from others I have talked to in the past is that elephants are afraid that bees will sting the inside of the trunk . Which is why I wont be letting any of my girls get up my nose either :-)
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 12:56 UTC
When all goes as planned: a case study of Hajj and the best crisis communication strategies for practitioners planning mega-events
Learning from past crises can lead to the creation of effective strategies, particularly safety strategies, to avert a crisis during a mega-event. While a Congressional Task Force investigated, a deeper dive into the failed coordination of communication strategies is suggested. Also worth exploring is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in developing effective strategies for safety at mega-events. The study of AI in developing effective communication strategies for safety at mega-events is perhaps groundbreaking research and application. LimitationsThis article is limited to one example of the effective communication strategies utilised to prepare and avoid crises during a specific event that hosts millions of people.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 12:54 UTC
Zelenskyy takes apparent dig at Scholz during EU parliament speech – video
In a speech marking 1,000 days of war in Ukraine, the country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has told the European parliament that Russia has brought in 11,000 North Korean troops to Ukraine’s borders, and that 'this contingent may grow to 100,000', appearing to endorse a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources. Speaking by video link, the Ukrainian president also appeared to make a dig at the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who recently called a snap election and has long frustrated Kyiv with his country's slow pace of military support and its refusal to supply German-made long-range Taurus missiles. 'While some European leaders think about some elections or something like this at Ukraine's expense … Putin is focused on winning this war. He will not stop on his own. The more time he has, the worse the conditions become,' Zelenskyy said.
Source:The Guardian
November 19, 2024 12:48 UTC